By: Kevin Lewis
7 UP
QB Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings (FD $6,900, DK $5,100) Bridgewater picked it up last week with a 300 yard, two TD performance at Detroit last week. He gets another good matchup this week against Chicago who is 29th in sacks and is allowing a 108 QB rating to opposing QB’s.
RB Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams (FD $8,100, DK $6,300) San Francisco is giving up 4.4 YPC on the road this year and we all know about Gurley’s exploits the last three weeks. Don’t try to be cute and fade him.
RB Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens (FD $6,900, DK $6,100) Opposing running backs have scored 10 touchdowns against the Chargers this year and the Chargers have allowed more fantasy points to running backs than every other team in the NFL. Forsett is still relatively cheap so he’s one of my very favorite plays this week.
RB Orleans Darkwa, New York Giants (FD $5,100, DK $3,600) Darwka hits holes quickly, follows his blocks and finishes his runs with power. Steve DeAngelo discussed this on the radio show last night. The Saints are allowing 6 YPC, Darkwa is set for a bigger workload this week, this could be a sleeper play that pays dividends.
WR Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings (FD $6,700, DK $4,800) He’s emerged of late and the Bears can’t stop the pass. While he will be very popular it will be hard to fade him against a poor Bears secondary.
WR Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis Colts (FD $6,400, DK $5,500) Moncrief should see less of Josh Norman than Hilton, one would think. He’s scored a touchdown in four of the five games Andrew Luck has played this year and he’s still really cheap on both sites.
TE Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers (FD $6,400, DK $6,500) Greg Olsen is Cam Newton’s go to guy and the Colts have allowed the ninth most points to the position in 2015. With the Colts run defense actually being pretty solid for a change, it’s fair to expect Cam Newton to have to put it up a bit. With that said, play Olsen.
7 Down
QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Panthers (FD $9,000, DK $7,500) It feels suggesting to fade Aaron Rodgers altogether but there are so many guys with better matchups and it’s not like Green Bay’s offense has been clicking on all cylinders recently either. I realize how dangerous it is to fade him altogether but that is exactly what I plan on doing.
WR Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers (FD $7,600, DK $7,000) Denver has a boatload of elite CBs. I would just avoid the entire Packers passing game altogether. It feels weird as hell to type that but here we are.
RB Chris Ivory, New York Jets (FD $7,700, DK $6,000) The most yardage the Raiders have allowed to an RB this year is 91. Add in the uncertainty with Ivory’s wide array of lower body injuries and he’s an easy fade for me this week
RB Darren McFadden, Dallas Cowboys (FD $6,400, DK $3,800) Just think better of it. I beg you. Or if you’re going to start Darren McFadden make sure you have a bottle of Pepto Bismol nearby.
RB Charcandrick West, Kansas City Chiefs (FD $6,600, DK $4,700) The Lions are actually a pretty good run defense and there isn’t a lot to like about the Chiefs offense these days.
QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (FD $7,800, DK $6,300) The Seahawks offense is barely above functional these days. Their OL is an absolute mess and the Cowboys front four is probably the strongest unit on the team. I’m going to avoid Wilson until he gives me a reason not to do so.
QB Brian Hoyer, Cleveland Browns (FD $6,900, DK $5,300) The Titans pass defense isn’t bad and I just feel like Hoyer is due for a dud. I’d look elsewhere in that price range if you absolutely must.
